There’s been quite a bit of talk in the past about YouTube looking into some form of subscription service, which would cut down on excessive ads and offer premium features for fans of the site. According to a story from Re/Code, it appears that this service may finally be ready to launch.

A blast email was sent from YouTube to a number of content owners that share ad revenue with the popular Google-owned video channel, indicating that new terms will have to be agreed to on October 22nd, or their “videos will no longer be available for public display or monetization in the United States.” The full email can be found here.

With that, sources indicate that the premium membership will offer two services for the price of one, including an update on its music service (which left a few creative artists a bit stifled) and the video service, which will be ad-free upon purchase of subscription.

YouTube didn’t confirm of the service just yet, but several video-oriented sources indicate that Google has a plan to charge $10 monthly for access to both of these options.

While this may be good news for some (particularly those who have been bothered with ads to the point that they purchased ad-blocking services), there is some cause for concern with creators. SocialTimes recently posted a story focusing on independent musician and composer Zoe Keating, who took exception to several of the terms noted in the email. She posted a list of these in her blog, but the sum-up can be found below in terms of what she takes biggest exception to:

  • All of my catalog must be included in both the free and premium music service.
  • All songs will be set to “monetize”, meaning there will be ads on them.
  • I will be required to release new music on YouTube at the same time I release it anywhere else.
  • The contract lasts for five years.

By not signing, Keating can lose quite a bit, and considering the amount of build-up she put into the channel, it can also result in a weaker contract.

David Holmes, East Coast editor for Pando Daily, noted, “Unless she signs, not only will Keating lose the free promotion and analytics that she currently receives as a YouTube partner, but she won’t be able to monetize through ContentID at all.” And refusal to sign the agreement at all could result in a total loss of funds, not partial.

Revenue sharing has gone a long way on the channel for its many partners, and while this subscription plan may seem like an ideal way for Google to “cash in” with its millions of fans, it could also put said creators into a bind, unless they enter a marketing partnership with another company to continue earning funds. (And some companies are doing that, but not all.)

Holmes was quick to note that, if this move enters into fruition and forces YouTube creators to make a decision, that “with (these contracts), YouTube has gone from the most artist-friendly major music platform on the planet to the least.”

Now all eyes are on YouTube to see what comes of the launch of its subscription service and if it will indeed stand firm with the many notations it made in its recent email.